Entering the First Drop in Coder Productivity on the ICD-10 Roller Coaster

We are well on our way to moving through the second quarter of 2013. This is the time many identified they would begin dual coding for ICD-10. Let the drop in coder productivity commence!

As we look forward to the next few years making it through the big ICD-10 transition and getting past major implementations like Computer Assisted Coding (CAC), there are other twists, turns and major drops on this roller coaster.

After the dip from dual coding, many are looking to address their Clinical Documentation Improvement initiatives in preparation for physician education in the area of ICD-10. When the query process picks up, productivity may experience another dip. We will all catch our breath from those back-to-back drops only to have a massive hit again on October 1, 2014. If Canada’s experience with the transition is a realistic expectation, this will be the “major thrill” of the ICD-10 productivity roller coaster. We could see an immediate dip of 53%.

However, don’t worry. The roller coaster will likely end with a leveling out at an overall 19% productivity hit (again, if Canada’s experience plays out here in the United States). The last bastion of hope to off-set that 19% dip in productivity rests with Computer Assisted Coding. CAC could come in and make up the difference for the productivity dip, and it’s expected to deliver on that hope.

Any way you slice it, productivity of an already overburdened coding staff is just now entering the thrill portion of the ICD-10 ride. Hold on tight!